Psychedelics and Mental Health Treatment Seeking Among Asians and Hawaiians

Abstract

States like Hawai‘i are decriminalizing psychedelics based on emerging evidence linking their use to improved psychological well-being. Yet, in many cultural contexts, stigma surrounding mental illness may lead individuals to pursue non-traditional forms of healing, including psychedelics, in place of formal care. This study examines how psychedelic use relates to mental health treatment-seeking behaviors among Asians and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs). Using the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data from 2008 to 2019 (n = 458,372), the analysis compares Non-Hispanic Whites with Asian and NHOPI respondents to assess associations between MDMA and lifetime classic psychedelic use, psychological distress (K6 scale), and formal mental health service utilization. Nested logistic regression models conducted in Stata 18 indicate that psychedelic use among White individuals is associated with a lower likelihood of seeking formal treatment. In contrast, among NHOPI individuals, psychedelic use is associated with increased odds of accessing mental health care. These findings suggest that psychedelic use may serve culturally distinct roles in coping with distress, shaped by structural stigma and the perceived trustworthiness of formal treatment systems.